Pitchfork's series of SXSW events kicked off last night with our SXSW Interactive Official Showcase at Mohawk. The show began with a pair of downcast male vocalists who can really sing: Nashville's Night Beds and Copenhagen's Indians, who should think about going on a package tour. That meditative feel was extended by Montreal's Blue Hawaii, but dark pop band IO Echo moved things in a different direction, complete with strobe light, screens, and kimonos.

Marnie Stern

Gainesville art pop group Hundred Waters added more knots and twists to their already complex compositions (drummer Zach Tetreault often played like another Zach, one with the last name Hill). Marnie Stern was also technically impressive, offering anthems from her new album, The Chronicles of Marnia. DIIV, getting ready to tour with How to destroy angels_, are seeming less like an opening act than an assured headliner (and frontman Zachery Cole Smith feels more and more like a traditional rock star).

Local Natives

Cloud Nothings performed a tougher, rangy set that included a new song. The band of choice for romantic couples was clearly Local Natives, who inspired plenty of sing-a-longs and making out. The Toronto house group Azari & III delivered a dancefloor-ready party; you had the sense they could've kept going for hours. Swedish synth-pop group Icona Pop and DJ John Talabot brought the night to a close with smart dance jams.